I wonder what the invariable objections are to these
programs? I know some groups do critize them, but I
can't remember their rationale. Wouldn't this rate
support by the "character education" promoters?
Nancy
--- jeff owens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> A few years ago i did a web search on "service
> learning"
> and did not find much. Now, the idea has grown and
> several universities have web sites. Its has even
> appeared in a local community garden that references
> this web site:
>
> www.growinggardens.org
>
> Another good site is:
>
> www.nicsl.coled.umn.edu
>
> one of the oldest links is at:
>
> http://csf.colorado.edu
>
> Here is a long article service learning:
>
> ----
>
> SURVEY SHOWS COMMUNITY SERVICE, SERVICE LEARNING ON
> THE RISE
>
> A new survey shows that many public schools are
> encouraging
> students to perform community service and that much
> of this
> service is integrated into the curriculum, a
> practice known
> as service-learning.
>
> According to the survey, approximately one-third of
> public
> schools use service-learning as part of the
> curriculum and
> nearly two-thirds have students involved in
> community service
> that is recognized or arranged by the school.
> Furthermore,
> the study finds that community service and
> service-learning
> are now rooted in public education at all grade
> levels.
>
> "Schools are teaching students to become better
> citizens by
> helping their fellow citizens," said U.S. Secretary
> of
> Education Richard W. Riley, "and making their
> community
> service even more relevant by linking it to what
> they learn
> in school. This is a good recipe for connecting
> education to
> life experiences. The increase in these activities
> is a good
> sign for our schools, our communities and our
> nation."
>
> Riley added that he is encouraged by the
> complementary work
> of the Corporation for National Service, which is
> ensuring
> that students pursue quality in their community
> service
> experiences and that schools find innovative and
> effective
> ways to incorporate community service activities
> into their
> curricula.
>
> "The survey confirms what we've been hearing from
> educators -
> that service learning makes a tremendous impact on
> students
> and their communities," said Harris Wofford, CEO of
> the
> corporation. "Students develop solid citizenship
> skills by
> participating in projects to make their communities
> better
> places to live."
>
> Wofford will highlight findings from the report
> today in
> Philadelphia, along with James Kohlmoos, deputy
> assistant
> education secretary, and David Hornbeck,
> Philadelphia's
> superintendent of schools. During the event,
> students at
> Simon Gratz High School will demonstrate the impact
> that
> service-learning has had on their education.
>
> Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12
> Public
> Schools, released by the Education Department's
> National
> Center for Education Statistics, is the first study
> to
> provide reliable national estimates of the
> percentage of
> public K-12 schools incorporating service-learning
> into their
> course curriculum, as well as providing the most
> recent data
> on school engagement in community service.
> Highlights from
> the survey include:
>
> Sixty-four percent of all public schools,
> including 83
> percent of public high schools, had students
> participating in
> community service activities recognized by or
> arranged
> through the school;
>
> Fifty-seven percent of all public schools
> organized community
> service activities for their students;
>
> Thirty-two percent of all schools organized
> service-learning
> as part of their curriculum, including nearly half
> of all
> high schools;
>
> Most schools with service-learning cited
> strengthening
> relationships among students, the school and the
> community as
> key reasons for practicing service-learning; and
>
> Eighty-three percent of schools with
> service-learning offered
> some type of support to teachers integrating
> service-learning
> into the curriculum.
>
> The survey also provides reliable national estimates
> on
> sources of funding to support community service and
> service-learning, school policies making
> participation in
> service-learning voluntary or mandatory, and how
> schools are
> implementing service-learning.
>
> Future analysis of the survey data could provide
> estimates of
> the subject matter being taught with
> service-learning, and
> the role of students in selecting and evaluating
> service-learning projects.
>
> The survey was sent to 2000 schools: 200 elementary
> schools,
> 500 middle schools, and 1,300 secondary/combined
> schools;
> 1,832 schools completed the survey. Full text of
> Service-Learning and Community Service in K-12
> Public Schools
> can be downloaded from the NCES web site by going to
> http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch, and searching on the
> title of
> the publication. In early November, copies can be
> ordered by
> calling 1-877-4ED-PUBS (1-877-433-7827), TTY/TDD
> 1-877-576-7734; e-mail at [EMAIL PROTECTED];
> Internet at
> www.ed.gov/pubs/edpubs.html. ###
>
> jeff
>
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